The scratching pen. The clacking keyboards. Creativity spilling onto the page like an expanding pool of words. Writing has excited humans for ages—creativity never contains an end, and neither has the amount of writers in the world. Yet, many writers need an extra nudge to help them understand the best techniques of process and craft. Here at Rosemont, we contain an MFA in Creative Writing, containing a slew of creative and encouraging teachers.

Love at First Sight

Trish Rodriguez is one of those instructors. Immediately falling in love with the community, Trish joined Rosemont because “they were flexible with time, and I was working a nine to five at the time,” and it all fit so perfectly with her schedule and passions. Furthermore, she was so excited that “they taught genre classes. [That way,] I could discover what kind of writer I want to be.” As many writers know, we’re still learning who we want to be; we’re still discovering how we want to write, and Trish is always so excited to help students take yet another step towards those discoveries.

Trish admitted that she doesn’t have a favorite class to teach. “I just love teaching fiction. I’ve had fun teaching all of them, and choosing your favorite class is like choosing your favorite child.” Throughout the years, Trish has taught dominantly fiction courses. She’s currently teaching a fiction workshop, but in the past, she’s also taught a seminar in short story and genre classes exploring mystery and horror and science fiction and fantasy. While teaching these classes, she learns from her students just as much as they do from her. She remembers with light in her eyes, one of the greatest lessons students taught her: “That you don’t have to pidgin-hole yourself.”

Helping Students

Being an adjunct instructor at Rosemont, Trish spends much of her extra time working and writing. Yet, she still always finds time to help her students—along with advising those who are completing their thesis projects. “I love guiding students from that raw draft to something they’re super proud of,” Trish explains with a smile. “And just being there at the beginning of the ride” is something she truly loves in advising thesis students. The MFA Creative Writing fiction thesis challenges students on brand new levels they had never experienced before; yet, they feel much more confident and excited when Trish is there to guide them forward.

Trish wants to ensure that all students finish her classes—and their overall Rosemont experiences—with a deeper passion for writing than when they first began. She wants to “reinvigorate their love in writing and confidence in themselves and the curiosity of the writing process.” She smiles widely and continues, “I just love when people get that ‘ah-ha’ moment!”

Inspiration for the Future

Many writers have moments when they wonder if they should continue—perhaps a difficult topic in a novel or a rough character. Yet, Trish assuages writing anxieties by reminding us all: “Writers write. That’s really all you need. All the other stuff is just gravy.” So, to all those aspiring authors out there—whether your passions reside in poetry, short stories, novels, flash fiction, memoirs, essays, or any hybrid of the aforementioned, never lose that courage to sit down and write. Professors like Trish will always be there to support you and help you return to that scratching pencil or that clacking keyboard.

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